Machine for feeding flimsy web material



Oct. 25, 1955 E. ALMGREN 2,721,612

MACHINE FOR FEEDING FLIMSY WEB MATERIAL Filed April 9, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l- 1 @2 2 p ii 71 H? I I 7f INVENTOR.

d5 AUGUST 5. flZMGPf/V BY 4 fi fim Oct. 25, 1955 E. ALMGREN 2,721,612

MACHINE FOR FEEDING FLIMSY WEB MATERIAL Filed April 9, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

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A rme/vni United States Patent C) MACHINE non FEEDING FLIMSY WEB MATERIAL August E. Almgren, Hillside, N. J assignor to American Can Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application April 9, 1951, Se'rialNo. 220,088

7 Claims. (Cl. 164-42) The present invention relates to a machine for feeding flimsy web material, which because of its thin or flimsy structure is diifieult to handle, into a precise location at a working station for the performance of an operation thereupon and has particular reference to devices for advancing such flimsy web material by engaging raw edges of slits or projections in the material.

This is a companion application to my co-pending United States patent application'Serial No. 220,087, filed April 9, 1951, on Method of Feeding Web Material.

An object of the invention is the provision of a machine for feeding web material wherein extremely thin or flimsy sheet or web material in substantially continuous strips may be readily advanced at high speed into and through a working station and accurately gauged and located at the working station for the performance of a treating operation upon the material.

Another object is the provision of such a machine wherein the material is advanced by devices which engage exposable raw or cut edges of slits formed in the material in such a manner as to utilize the entire surface area of the material without impairment, distortion or other damage.

Another object is the provision of such a machine wherein the strip material is arched or bowed transversely and its longitudinal edges confined to strengthen the material, especially at the raw or cut edges of the slits, to provide rigidity for accurate and uniform advancement of the material.

Another object is the provision of such a machine wherein web material having no waste portions or cut away portions, which could otherwise be utilized for feeding of the material may be readily advanced through accurately measured distances without slippage.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a machine embodying the instant invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 in Fig. I, with parts broken away;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary end elevation as viewed from the right in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially 'along the vertical line 5-5 in Fig. 2, with parts broken away; and

Figs. 6 and 7 are elevational views drawn at the scale of Fig. 2 and taken substantially along the lines 66, 7--7, in Fig. 5. a

As a preferred or exemplary embodiment of the invention the drawings illustrate a machine for feeding a strip A (Figs. 1 and 2) of flimsy web material such as thin paper, waxed paper, glassine, cellophane, metal foils, and

other similar fibrous and nonfibrous materials, into and through a working station E, at which measured portions of the strip preferably are cut off, to form, for example, overcaps C for the tops of fibre milk containers or the like. Advancement of the strip A into and through the Working station is effected intermittently through the medium of short transverse slits D spaced from each other and from the edges of the strip. The slits are pre-cut in the strip in transverse rows located at spaced intervals longitudinally of the strip at the potential lines of seven ance of the overcaps.

Each time the strip A is advanced, the material of the strip immediately behind a slit D is displaced, by depression or elevation, to expose the raw or cut edge of the slit. The raw edge thus exposed serves as a projection or shoulder which may be engaged for pushing the strip forward. Through this shoulder complete control may be had over the distance the strip is advanced and thus control may be had over the precise location of the advanced portion of the strip relative to the working station. In the instant case the strip is advanced a distance equal to the length of one overcap C and this portion of the strip is located so that the slits D will be precisely at the line of severance of the overcap so that all evidence of the slits will be eliminated from the finished overcap and thus the entire area of the overcap may be utilized without waste in connection with the container to which it is subsequently attached.

In the machine, a roll E (Figs. 1 and 2) of the strip material is carried on a shaft 11 supported in lugs 12 of a frame 13 which constitutes the main frame of the machine. The strip is threaded upwardly over an idle support roller 15 and is unwound from the roll E by a pair of continuously rotating feed rollers 16, 17 between which the strip passes, for providing a slack loop F from which the strip may be readily advanced in an intermittent or step-by-step manner through the working station B. The idle roller 15 operates on a shaft 18 journaled in bearings formed in the frame 13. The feed rollers 16, 17 are mounted on respective shafts 19, 20 which are journaled in bearings formed in the frame 13.

The feed rollers 16, 17 are rotated in unison through a pair of meshing gears 22, 23 mounted on the respective shafts 19, 20. The upper shaft 20 is a drive shaft and this shaft is driven continuously by an endless chain 25 which operates over a sprocket 26 mounted on the shaft. The chain is driven by a sprocket 27 (Fig. 5) which is mounted on a main drive shaft 28 journaled in bearings 29 formed in the frame 13. The main drive shaft 28 is rotated continuously in any suitable manner.

The strip A of web material from the slack loop F is fed forward at the feeding station in an intermittent manner and in a horizontal position to permit of subsequent operations on the strip at the working station B. The strip advances along the top of a table or support 31 (Fig. 5) which is secured to the frame 13. The top of the table 31 preferably is curved convexly in order to arch or bow the strip A transversely to strengthen or rigidify the strip for easy feeding. This action is further facilitated by confining and guiding the longitudinal edges of the strip. For this latter purpose the table 31 carries a pair of longitudinal guide rails 32, disposed one along each side of the table. The'upper portions of the guide rails are formed with confining ledges 33 which overlap or overhang the longitudinal edges of the curved top of the table 31 in vertically spaced relation thereto and thus set off a pair of longitudinal channels 34 between the ledges and the top of the table, of a width slightly greater than the thickness of the web material for the ready passage of the edges of the strip A therethrough.

Advancement of the strip A in its transversely curved condition, along the convex table top is effected by a set of feed dogs 36 (Figs. 1, 3 and 5) which are disposed adjacent the top of the table. The drawings show three of these feed dogs 36, one for each slit D in the rows of slits extending across the strip, the dogs being located in alignment with the path of travel of the slits as they move with the advancement of the strip.

The feed dogs 36 extend longitudinally of the table 31 and intermediate their ends they are mounted on a common pivot pin 37 carried in a slide block 38 disposed above the strip A of material on the table. Flat springs 39 press against the forward ends (toward the right in Fig. 3) of the dogs andthus press these ends downwardly against the strip A. The springs are secured to a cross bar 41 carried on the slide block 33. The under side of the cross bar serves as a stop for engagement by the rear ends of the dogs to limit the downward travel of the forward ends of the dogs.

The slide block 38 is mounted for reciprocating move ment along the top of the table 31 and for this purpose the block rests in and slides along a pair of parallel tracks 43 (Figs. 1 and 5) formed in the tops of the strip side guides 32. Reciprocation of the slide block along these tracks is effected by a pair of links 44- which are pivotally connected to the slide block. The links are also pivotally connected to the upper ends of a pair of upright arms 45 disposed one on each side of the frame 13 (Fig. 5). The lower ends of the arms 45 are secured to a cross shaft 46 carried in bearings 47 formed in the frame 13. The shaft 46 also carries a cam arm 48 having a cam roller 49 (Fig. 6) which operates in a cam groove 51 in a face cam 52 mounted on the main shaft 28.

Hence, the rotation of the main shaft 28 rotates the cam 52 and rocks the cam arm 48 and the upright arms 45 and thus reciprocates the slide block 38 intermittently through a forward or feeding stroke and thence through a return stroke. During a return stroke of the slide block 38, the feed dogs 36 are raised above the strip A to clear the strip and thus prevent any backward drag on the strip. This raising of the dogs 36 is effected by lift fingers 54 (Fig. 3) which engage against the back ends of the feed dogs. There are three of these lift fingers 54, one for each feed dog 36 and they are secured to a rock shaft 55 (Fig. 5) carried in the slide 38.

Oneend of the shaft 55 extends beyond the slide 38 and carries an actuating arm 56 having a cam roller 57 on its outer end. The cam roller rides on a horizontally disposed, vertically movable, cam rail 58 (Fig. 2) secured to the up; er end of an upright rod 59 slidably mounted in a bearing 61 which projects out from the adjacent guide rail 32. The lower end of the rod 59 is formed with a fork member 62 which straddles the main drive shaft 28. This member carries a cam roller 63 which operates in a cam groove 64 of aface cam 65 carried on the main drive shaft 28. A collar 66 on the drive shaft retains the fork member in place against the cam.

The cam groove 64 is shaped with two circular dwell portions, each of which is substantially equal to one half a revolution of the cam, the two dwell portions being connected by a sharp rise portion and a sharp lowering portion; thus effecting a rise and a fall of the cam rail 58 for each revolution of the cam. The cam groove 64 lowers the cam rail 58 for the return stroke of the slide 38 and raises the rail for the forward or feeding stroke of the slide.

- Hence when the slide 38 is about to move back through a return stroke, the cam 65 lowers the cam rail 53 and thus depresses the actuating arm. 56 and this rocks the lift fingers 54 downwardly against the back ends of the feed dogs 36 and thus raises the forward ends of the dogs away from the strip'A. The dogs remain in this position during the return stroke of the slide 38. At the end of this return stroke as shown in Fig. 3, the cam 65 raises the cam rail 58. The feed dog springs 39 thereupon depresses the forward end of the dogs and thus raise the back end and the lift fingers 54. The springs 39 pressing against the dogs depress the material of the strip im mediately behind the slits as shown in Fig. 3. Longitudinal clearance grooves 68 formed in the convex top of the table 31 in alignment with the dogs 36 permit of this depressing action.

The depression of the material exposes the raw or cut edges of the slits and thus presents an edge of the material in a position which is readily engageable by the front feeding ends of the dogs. Thus on the forward stroke of the slide block 38, the feed dogs 36 while holding the material behind the slits D depressed, engage the exposed raw edge of the slits and push the strip A forward. In this manner and by means of the dogs and the slits in the material, the strip A is advanced a distance equal to the stroke of the slide block. At the end of this stroke the feed dogs are again elevated away from the strip A and return with the slide block through another return stroke as mentioned above and thus withdraw from the advanced slits D for engagement with the next following set of slits. With a springy material, withdrawal of the feed dogs permit the depressed material of the strip to spring back into its normal position without adversely affecting material. In feeding a non-springy material, such as aluminum or lead foil, the displaced material may be readily forced back into place without in any manner distorting or damaging the material.

In the instant machine, the slide block 38 and the feed dogs 36 advance the forward end of the strip A into the working station B and precisely locate the transverse row of slits D in register with a stationary shear block 71 (Fig. 2) provided at the forward end of the table 31. A movable shear blade 72 co-operates with the shear block 71 to cut off the end portion of the strip A to produce the overcap C. The cut off overcap may be applied directly to a container orv may fall to any suitable place of deposit for subsequent application to the container, as desired.

The movable shear blade 72 is disposed above the path of travel of the strip A at the working station and is pivotally connected to a lug 73 (Fig. 1) on the frame 13. One end of the blade is secured to a link 74 (Fig. 2) which is connected to a cam lever 75 mounted intermediate its ends on a pivot pin 76 (Fig. l) secured in a boss 77 extended out from the frame 13. The cam lever 75 carries a cam roller 78 which operates in a cam groove 79 (Figs. 5 and 7) of a face cam 80 mounted on the main drive shaft 28.

Hence as the main drive shaft 28 rotates the cam 80, the cam rocks the lever 75 and thus raises and drops the shear blade 72 in time with the travel or advancement of the strip A. During the advancement of the strip, the blade 72 is in a raised stationary position. It is only while the strip is at rest at the working station B that the blade descends on the strip to sever the overcap C along the slits D.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

1. In a'machine for feeding flimsy web material along a pathof travel extending from a feeding station through a working station for the performance of an operation thereon, said fiimsymaterial having a plurality of transvers slits in a line acrossthe web of material and spaced from each other and frorn the longitudinal edges of the web, the combination of means for transversely arching the web material and for maintaining said arched formation for substantially the full width of the material throughout said path of travel, means at said feeding station for depressing the convex side of said arched web material behind each of said slits to expose a plurality of transversely spaced raw feed edges braced by said arching, and feeding means for engaging and pushing forward against all of said spaced arched feed edges simultaneously to distribute the pushing pressure across the width of the web and thereby advance the flimsy material along said path of travel without buckling or tearing it.

2. The machine of claim 1 in which the means for transversely arching the web material comprises concave and convex surfaces extending along and closely adjacent the path of travel of the web for confining the longitudinal edges and longitudinal portions of opposite sides of the web therebetween for supporting and maintaining the Web in transversely arched formation across substantially its full width throughout said path of travel.

3. The machine of claim 1 having means at the working station for shearing a portion from the web with a cut made across said web through a line of slits while the web is arched and confined at the working station.

4. The machine of claim 1 in which the means for transversely arching the web material comprises a table having a convex top for supporting the web material and means adjacent said convex top of the table for urging said flimsy web material against and into substantial conformity with said convex top to arch the material transversely for substantially the full width of the material, said table in its convex top having a longitudinally grooved portion located in alignment with the slits in said material to accommodate the depressed portions of the web behind the slits; and in which the feeding means is disposed adjacent said table and in alignment with said grooved portion to engage the exposed arched edges simultaneously for advancing the web material.

5. The machine of claim 4 in which the means for urging the flimsy web material against and into substantial conformity with the convex top of the table includes a pair of side guides disposed one on each side of the table and having confining ledges overhanging said table and setting off longitudinal channels between said ledges and the top of said table for guiding and confining the longitudinal edges of the flimsy material to urge it against and into substantial conformity with said convex top of the table to arch the material transversely for substantially the full width of the web.

6. The machine of claim 5 in which each of the side guides is formed with a track in its upper surface, and the feeding means includes a slide block mounted for reciprocation on said tracks and carrying a plurality of transversely aligned feed dogs between said tracks and means for pressing said dogs against the web material behind each of said slits to engage the exposed arched raw edges of the slits for advancing the web material.

7. The machine of claim 6 having a convex shear block in the convex surface of the table, a shear blade movably mounted adjacent said shear block for cooperation there with, and means for moving said shear blade in time with the feeding means to sever a portion of said flimsy material While it is retained in arched formation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,054,976 McCauley Mar. 4, 1913 1,124,577 Allen Jan. 12, 1915 1,160,788 Thorschmidt Nov. 16, 1915 1,481,332 Stock Jan. 22, 1924 1,709,354 Kohnle Apr. 16, 1929 1,735,643 Henry Nov. 12, 1929 1,837,450 Laencher Dec. 22, 1931 1,860,144 Gaisman et a1. May 24, 1932 1,870,424 Rosenthal Aug. 9, 1932 1,986,678 Laencher Jan. 1, 1935 2,073,507 Weimont Mar. 9, 1937 2,266,362 Forster Dec. 16, 1941 2,382,406 Engberg Aug. 14, 1945 2,593,585 Madgwick et a1 Apr. 22, 1952 

